Exerciser for animals

ABSTRACT

An improved exerciser for animals such as dogs including a means movable in unison with the dog for stimulating his activity.

United States Patent Kusisto 1 May 30, 1972 [5 EXERCISER FOR ANIMALS[56] References Cited 72] Inventor: Ike w. Kusisto, Po. Box 13237,Phoenix, UNITED STATES PATENTS Ariz- 8502 3,312,195 4/1967 Rohena..119/29 [22] Filed: Oct 30 1970 3,424,132 1/1969 Fischer et al. ..119/29 [21] Appl. NO-I 35,461 Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. MedberyAnomeyWarren F. B. Lindsley 52 us. c1.., ..119/29, 119 155 57 ABSTRACT51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 15/00 1 58 Field of Search ..1 19 155, 29; 272/4, 40An improved exerciser for animals Slwh as dogs including a means movablein unison with the dog for stimulating his activity.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 I I I I I I I IINVENTOR. IKE w. KUSISTO M F/Z; 4

ATTORNEY EXERCISER FOR ANIMALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to an exercising means for animals and moreparticularly to an exercising means for small animals of the canine typewhich stimulates the animal into walking or running in a givendirection.

1. Field of the Invention This invention is directed to an exercisingdevice for indoor and outdoor use which causes the dog to run or walkaround in a circular like path and by such action causing thesimultaneous movement of a stimulating device for the dog.

2. Description of the Prior Art Dog exercising has been a problem forcity dwellers and particularly those who live in congested neighborhoodssuch as apartment or townhouse areas Not only is there little space fora dog to run but most cities have ordinances which restrict such action.A further deterrent to dog exercising is the time necessary for a dogowner to traverse the course, thus requiring the hiring of a dog walker.Since it is necessary to exercise the dog to maintain his health anddisposition, a need exists for a device which will not only exercise thedog but will do so in a small area and in a stimulating manner for thedog.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed animproved exercising means for dogs is provided which is compact, stable,easily movable and adaptable for indoor and outdoor use.

- It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improvedexerciser for small animals of the canine type.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary dogexerciser which is pedestal mounted and provided with an actionstimulator which is actuated in union with the dogs movement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dog exerciser inwhich the pedestal is liquid or sand filled and capable of being drainedto provide stability and moveability with a minimum amount ofdifiiculty.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sturdy,economical dog exerciser easily movable for indoor and outdoor use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterizes this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

BRIEF Drsscrumorv or THE DRAWING The present invention may be morereadily described by reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an animal exerciser and embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial front view of FIG. 1 showing in moredetail the cam mechanism for actuating the animal stimulator;

FIG 3 is partial view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 2-2 showing themeans for engaging the chain of the animal controlled;

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIGS showing the chain locking means indeflected position; and

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the structure shown in FIGS. 1-4 whereinthe exerciser is electrically driven.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to thedrawing by characters of reference, FIGS. 1-4 disclose an exerciser forsmall animals such as dogs which need to be walked and run for healthand disposition reasons. The exerciser 10 comprises a hollow frustum 12which may be formed out of or molded from a suitable plastic or metalwhich is impervious to liquids such as water. The frustum is providedwith a drain plug 14 at its bottom and a fill plug 16 at its top asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is the intention of the inventor that thefrustum be filled with water which can be drained at will indoors andoutdoors so that the exerciser can be easily moved and still when atleast partly filled with water to be relatively stable and immovable bythe dog. Sand may be used as a filler if so desired.

Rotatably mounted on the top of frustum 12 is a pair of arms I8 and 20which may be angularly positioned at less than 180 in the direction ofrotation. Each arm is fixedly mounted on a shaft 22 which is rotatablymountedon the top of frustum 12 so that when arm 18 is moved arm 20moves in unison therewith. Arm 20 comprises a pair of axially arrangedparts 21 and 23 which are hingedly connected at 25 so that part 21 maybe actuated upward by a cam ring hereinafter described.

To the end of arm 20 may be attached a chain or rope 24 of apredetermined length having tied at its loose end a suitable bait orstimulator 26 such as an imitation cat or rabbit. The bait should be onesuitably attractive to the dog being exercised and may be replaced withother types of stimulators as desired.

At the free end of arm 18 is mounted restraining strap or chainadjusting means 28 which as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises an aperture30 extending through arm 18 having a slot 32 extending outwardlytherefrom in the direction of rota tion of the am. As a link of a chain34 ispushed upwardly through the aperture 30 it may be arranged toextend criss cross of slot 32 above arm 18 with the juxtapositionedlower link in the chain arranged to extend lengthwise in the slot. Inthis way the link above the slot holds the chain firmly in the slot.Such an attachment makes it easy to engage and disen-. gage a chain toarm 18. This attachment may also be used for any chain or strap that hasa knob or handle at the end of it which may be forced through aperture30 and the chain or strap captured by slot 32. In order to keep thechain in place a resilient strap or strip of metal 36 may be fastened toarm 18 to cover aperture 30. As shown in FIG. 4 the strip may bedeflected to attach and detach chain 34.

At the end of chain 34 is arranged a dog collar or harness 38. It shouldbe noted that the length of chain 34 should be of such a size that thedog straining on the chain or leach can not reach the stimulator 26attached to the end of rope 24.

In order to further stimulate the dog to walk or run afler the bait orstimulator 26 a noise maker 40 is attached to arm 20. This noise makermay be arranged'to make a sound characteristic of the type of bait beingused. For example, if a cat is used as a bait the sound could be animitation of a cat in distress. Other baits and other sounds could besimulated.

The noise maker could be actuated by an arm 42 actuated by a camfollower 44 mounted on the lower surface of arm 20 which follows a camring 46 mounted on the top of frustum 12. As the cam follower 44 followsthe cam ring 46 part 21 of arm 20 is caused to move up and downaccording to the surface of cam ring 46 which causes the bait orstimulator 26 to move in an erratic way. At the same time the noisemaker is actuated so that the bait appears to be making a noise as itmoves in an erratic manner. The noise maker is caused to be actuatedintermittently by the upward and downward movement of the cam follower44 of arm 20 following along the cam ring 46.

It should be noted that a compartment 47 may be provided in frustum 12isolated from the remainder of the hollow inside of the frustum andclosed by a door 49 for housing the stimulators 26.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of the structure shown in FIGS. 1-4wherein a frustum 48 is provided in place of frustum 12. This frustum isprovided with a water compartment 50 in the lower portion thereof and anisolated water tight compartment 52 in the upper portion thereof. Anelecart that various changes may be made in the structure shown withoutdeparting from the spirit'of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An exerciser for live animals comprising:

a pedestal,

a pair of angularly spaced arms rotatively mounted on top of saidpedestal,

a first means attached at one end to one of said arms and at the otherend to an animal which can walk and run around said pedestal,

a second means attached at one end to the other arm and at its other endto an animal stimulator,

a cam mounted on said pedestal,

a cam follower mounted on said other arm and arranged to move over saidcam surface,

said cam follower causing said other arm to move longitudinally of saidpedestal, and a a noise maker attached to said other arm and acturatedby rotative movement of said other arm to simulate a soundcharacteristic of the stimulator.

2. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 wherein hinge means are providedon said other arm for causing it to pivotally move longitudinally ofsaid pedestal under influence of said cam.

3. The exerciser set forth in claim I wherein said pedestal comprises ahollow frustum adapted to receive and hold liquid.

4. The exerciser set forth in claim 3 wherein a drain plug is providedat the base of said frustum and a fill plug at the top of said frustum.g

5. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 in further combination with anelectric motor mounted on said pedestal and means connecting said motorto said arms for rotation said arms around said pedestal.

6. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 in further combination with meansfor actuating said noise maker upon longitudinal movement of said otherarm.

7. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 wherein said pedestal comprises afrustum,

said other arm is pivotally mounted to said frustum for longitudinalmovement of said frustum upon rotation of said arm,

a drain plug is provided in the base of said frustum,

a fill plug is provided in the frustum at the top thereof,

and said noise maker is actuated by the longitudinal movement of saidother arm.

I it l l

1. An exerciser for live animals comprising: a pedestal, a pair of angularly spaced arms rotatively mounted on top of said pedestal, a first means attached at one end to one of said arms and at the other end to an animal which can walk and run around said pedestal, a second means attached at one end to the other arm and at its other end to an animal stimulator, a cam mounted on said pedestal, a cam follower mounted on said other arm and arranged to move over said cam surface, said cam follower causing said other arm to move longitudinally of said pedestal, and a noise maker attached to said other arm and acturated by rotative movement of said other arm to simulate a sound characteristic of the stimulator.
 2. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 wherein hinge means are provided on said other arm for causing it to pivotally move longitudinally of said pedestal under influence of said cam.
 3. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 wherein said pedestal comprises a hollow frustum adapted to receive and hold liquid.
 4. The exerciser set forth in claim 3 wherein a drain plug is provided at the base of said frustum and a fill plug at the top of said frustum.
 5. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 in further combination with an electric motor mounted on said pedestal and means connecting said motor to said arms for rotation said arms around said pedestal.
 6. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 in further combination with means for actuating said noise maker upon longitudinal movement of said other arm.
 7. The exerciser set forth in claim 1 wherein said pedestal comprises a frustum, said other arm is pivotally mounted to said frustum for longitudinal movement of said frustum upon rotation of said arm, a drain plug is provided in the base of said frustum, a fill plug is provided in the frustum at the top thereof, and said noise maker is actuated by the longitudinal movement of said other arm. 